Living The Good Life

To celebrate the big transition to Vietnam, we at the Richert Ranch have decided to relocate webwise as well. It seems time for fresh starts all around. We hope you join us .

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I know, I know...the blog has been deathly silent for the past five (has it really been five?) months. That is partly due to that fact that life in Ecuador is just that, life. No longer caught by surprise by that man peeing on the street corner, or the countless iguanas crossing the road. I hate to say it, but it's all become part of the expected. Even our vacations are becoming a bit repetitive. I could tell you about how I went paragliding over Thanksgiving, but I'm pretty sure I have a post about that. I could wax elegantly about school life, but let me check....yep, got those too. Not wanting to repeat myself over and over, I've let the blog lapse a bit. There has been no new news to report. That is, until now. This overseas living and teaching tends to have its own rhythms. In November, the wave of decision comes crashing in. Will you stay and renew your contract? Or, will you throw caution to the wind and try your luck with somewhere else. For those who ch...

I know...it has been months (months!! How did that happen?!). I can tell you how it happened... * swine flu paranoia in Ecuador * whirlwind tours of the USA from D.C. to California * a swimming sensation that is six years old, and the Transformer's expert * a beautiful 11 month old that fell in love with her uncle * bbq's galore * weekends away with the greatest of friends * new bikes (Oh, Isis...I miss you already) * let's be honest....Target, Costco, and the Patagonia outlet contributed to the silence * 14 hour road trips * napkin making * concerts that had to be attended (I really do love you Josh Ritter. Really) * books to purchase and read * and, of course, all that repacking * which only leads to all that unpacking It's been a busy two and half months kids.

There are four weeks left of school (28 days counting weekends), and usually this benchmark is characterized by complete and utter exhaustion.  A little of the "I just need to make it through this day" attitude.  Past April/Mays of my teaching life have been filled with days where I am just trying to keep my head above water.  I'm tired, the kids are tired, we are all a little bit irritable, and patience doesn't seem to be a virtue that makes it on my list.  By the end of the year, I am so thankful for the break to just physically and emotionally recoup.  But, this year....this year is proving to be different. Thanks to some of my rockstar co-workers, I have been energized in an unaccountable way.  I'm talking a full-fledge teacher geek out, usually only experienced in the first few months of the school year.  Technology people, best motivator ever. Here's the top five technology wonders currently making appearances in the Richert classroom: 1.  Voicethreads: ...

After an almost two year experiement in living, Dave and I have come to the conclusion that we are not beach people.   Sand?  Not a fan.   Being in a sea of people who, let's be honest, are a lot more confident in what they are wearing then they should be?  I can live without it, my eyes will forever thank me. (Seriously?  Speedos?  Why are people letting their friends leave the house in those?)   Yes, the ocean is beautiful.  And big.  And just a little frightening with all those crashing waves that pull you under water and provide that "I've just been tossed into a washing machine during the speed cycle" feeling. Besides that, I tend to burn.  And then freckle.  Not good. I can't help it...I wasn't born to be enchanted by the swaying palm trees and shimmering sunsets.  I mean, I'm from Idaho .  Give me the mountains anyday. And this is why Dave and I headed to Vilcabamba, Ecuador for Semana Santa, instead of following the rest of Ecuador to the coast.  T...

Meet our new little friend... He likes bikes too.

Dave and I have been housebound the last week.  Let me tell you, an unexpected week off of work is not always as enjoyable as you would think.   Living in a developing nation, you have to be willing to accept some unpleasant things that are going to come your way.  You will be robbed at some point, just go with the flow.  Your plans will never go as expected (What?  You don't have my hotel reservation?  Or the $50 deposit I have already made?).  And, you will contract some awful virus or bacteria.  Guaranteed.  The latter is what struck the Richert's this past week. Yep, right there is just your basic case of conjunctivitis (a.k.a. pink eye).  I know, gross.  We are pretty sure that it found its way to us via Ecuador's stellar bus system.  I began noticing the problem on the way home from our relaxing eco -resort getaway.  Thinking that something had flown into my eye due to the open windows of the bus, I worried it like nothing else trying to get it out.  This is what cau...

I know that my adventures are not in the same vein as this .  But, come on, can the Amazon really compete with: Hanging out with a superhero who just happens to be an Ecuador futbol fan as well. Making the ever delicious treat of the "Gaby Sandwich" Being in awe of "Super-Mom" (A.K.A. Cousin Kira...and yes, those are all her adorable children) Finally getting rid of my own personal heating system.  Spotting something uniquely Idaho.  (A live bait vending machine?  Are you serious?) There was the re-stocking of reading material. (Man, I love Barnes and Noble) And let's not forget about the shopping. There was also having coffee and dinner with friends, the frazzled transition from speaking Spanish to English whenever ordering food, and the beauty of finally getting to flush my toilet paper (though I did have to tell myself to flush it and not throw it away Every. Single. Time.  Too much information?)   It was a wonderful, restful, break full of family, fun, laugh...

I have been a lapsed blogger as of late.  Not because there has not been fun and exciting things happening, but because I am trying to spend only a 1/2 hour on the computer a day.  Man, I didn't realize how much of my life this whole technology thing takes up!  I have been spending only 1/2 hour on the computer a day (well, not really on the weekends because you have to break the rules sometimes) since the beginning of March.  I'm on my fifth book of the month people, and it is only the 15th.  Awesome. This recent decision of mine was spurned on by a conversation I had with my mom.  We were talking about faithfulness in marriage, friendships, and life in general.  She said, and I'm paraphrasing here, that acts of unfaithfulness are anything that takes you away from the relationships you have committed to.  Spending too much time on anything that takes you away from nurturing and working on the relationships you are in is potentially harmful.  Wise woman, that mom of mine. I...

I'm not sure about all teachers, but February is my least favorite month of the school year. I don't care that it has the least amount of days of any other month, it is the longest month of the year. Here is why... The excitement of the first of the year is gone. The kids are no longer on their best behavior and willing to try the new can crazy ideas that come out of their teacher's heads. During the second quarter of school, we all have our eye on Christmas vacation. We might get a little impatient and the crazy level might rise a bit, but we all are still working and willing. But third quarter (aka February) we've got nothing. The kids are grouchy, there is nothing to look forward to, and, most shocking of all, they are no longer impressed with my special brand of humor. The nerve. Not to mention the weather... Idaho weather during this time is gray, dreary, and cold. There usually is slushy snow, black ice, or biting wind. Ecuador weather is hot, gray, and ...

There are many perks to being a middle school Language Arts teacher.  Namely, the opportunity to continue to read young adult literature without shame or guilt.   Yes, I read the Twilight series.   Yes, I claimed it was because I had to "keep up" with the current YA lit craze. Yes, I'm a little in love with Edward. Let's face it, YA literature is a lot of fun to read.  They are quick reads designed to first get kids interested in reading and then to introduce them to different ideas in the world.  Interest first, ideas next.  They aren't typically the books you pick up to show how sophisticated your reading life is (not a lot of YA books comparable to War and Peace out there), or ones that you only read to give yourself a brain-break (oh, how I love you Janet Evanovich during the dreaded third quarter of the school year).  A lot of Young Adult literature is somewhere in the middle of those two reading extremes.  You have to love a book that gives you a heavy do...

Confession:  I love those getting to know you questionnaire, tag games, roving emails.  I just can't help myself.  I love reading what other people say, and I love filling them out myself.  First off, I love discovering that new piece of quirky information that just wouldn't come up in typical conversation.  "Oh, you once ate a live goldfish while dancing the mamba?"  Interesting.   Second, I love having to figure out my own answers.  There are moments in our lives that are natural to share, and therefore always at the front of our minds.   And there are those moments that don't fit in any socially natural box, they just are too obscure or bizarre to have an open forum.  These tend to turn into the moments we cherish in someway, that we only share in those magical moments of unexpected confessions.  They often define us, or show an aspect of our character that hasn't really gotten a chance to shine.  After confessing these, and hearing them confessed, you usu...

As promised, here is the Amazing Richert Christmas Adventure 2008, with special guest star, Sherry Silvers. Bogota, Columbia.   As you can see...this city and I were obviously made for each other.  Bookstores, libraries, and coffee shops were on every block.  Yes, the majority of the books were in Spanish which causes some slight difficulties, but I don't like to focus on those kind of details.  I'm more of a cup half full kind of gal.   Also, the city is bike crazy.  There are hundreds of miles of bike lanes; we saw bike lanes throughout the city and even along the highway.  They just created a bike/walking lane in the middle of the highway, incredible!  They even close off some of the major streets every Sunday and holiday so people can ride their bikes through the main arteries of town without dealing with the potentially dangerous obstacle of cars.  The city had me at hello. Dave found a wonderful place for us to stay that was right in the heart of the historic district of ...

This is craziness.  Dave and I have been living and traveling around South America for a year and a half.  We come across many fellow travelers and adventurers.  How many of the people we have met do you think have been from the United States?   Do you have your guess? Counting the people I work with, the number is in the low double digits.  I'm thinking maybe 10 to 15%.  And that, again, is including the people I work with.  The majority of travelers we come across actually have been from Europe.  See, they know something you North Americans haven't seemed to grasp yet... South America is the place to be!  It's beautiful, unique, has beaches, mountains, jungles, and the best part, is incredibly affordable.  I ask you again, what exactly are you waiting for? Exhibit A:   Colombia .  I know, I know, the first things you think of when you hear Colombia are drug cartels and guerrilla warfare.  But seriously, that is so 1995.  Visit Colombia today and you will be amazed at how ...

I have to admit, it has been quite awhile since I have actually been awake to ring in the new year and say goodbye to the old.  Dave and I have always been a bit more concerned about the eight hours of sleep necessary to enjoy life rather than seeing the ball drop.  But this year...is different.   It is 12:58 and the neighbor's hired band just started, there are rapid fire explosives (aka fireworks) going off in three minute intervals, and the car alarms throughout our block seem to be answering the loving call of said fireworks.  There will be no eight hours to start off the year for the Richert's this time. Nothing about our experiences in Ecuador could be classified as typical, and New Year's Eve is proving to be no exception.  The evening started out quite and low key, dinner at home with a movie.  There were the occasional firework, but that isn't anything atypical.  I was even contemplating continuing the tradition of snuggling into bed by 10:30.   Before I called...

Now, my husband would have you believe that his current life is like this: I think this is his, "I'm on the brink of death" look But in all actuality, his life is currently this: And this... And a whole lot of this... Yeah, life might be a little less mobile, but it is still pretty good.

I don't think anyone will be surprised to know that I am having D-O-U-B-T-S about signing up for another year of teaching and living in Ecuador.   Part of the problem is me, I'm a chronic second guesser who always questions decisions I make.  The other part of the problem is it's just that time of year, the crazy "school has got to let up soon or I will go bald pulling out all of my hair" time of year.  Kids are starting to go wild because they can smell the three week vacation that is just around the corner, high school finals start tomorrow (exactly what is a middle school teacher doing writing a senior literature final?  I have no idea what I'm doing here!), report cards are due soon, and I stupidly have assigned major projects/papers/presentations (the curse of the triple p) to be due this week. Not to mention the weather... Oh yes, the rainy season is almost upon us and we all know how well that went for me last year.  By the end of February, the faint so...

I have typed out the start of this post, and erased it, so many times, my backspace button is starting to lose its letters.  Yes, part of the reluctance may have to do with the fact that I am a third generation Idahoan, born and raised in a state that has been painted red with Teflon.  And yet, I still tend to fall a smidge left of that center line.  But mainly, this post has been a long time coming because I can't seem to fully put into words the emotion, excitement, and wonder I am still feeling after last week's historic election.   I think I will just leave it to my friend Sarri's eloquence.  Read this , be moved, be thankful, and be hopeful. Congratulations America...